A town hall meeting hosted by NO765MN on October 21 at the Preston Riverfront Center drew a full house.
Concerned citizens gathered to learn more about the proposed 765 kV transmission line. The transmission line is to extend from the South Dakota border and run all across the southern edge of Minnesota to Wisconsin. The proposal includes a 139-mile electric transmission line (the proposed Gopher-Badger Link) extending from the North Rochester Substation near Pine Island through Marion area to Bell Center, Wisconsin. Opponents believe this transmission line is being planned to power a proposed Google data center near Pine Island. The Gopher to Badger Link includes the Minnesota segment of the Maribell transmission line.
Xcel Energy and Dairyland Power maintain this 765 kV transmission line is part of a regional transmission plan developed through the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and it will strengthen the regional grid.
MISO is mostly a consortium of for-profit utilities. The MariBell transmission project proposed for our region is one of 24 transmission projects approved for development by MISO. Together these proposed projects in the upper Midwest will require an estimated $21.8 billion investment.
Charlie Wray, John Pugleasa, and Kyle Johnson are members of NO765MN, which is a coalition of Minnesota farmers, landowners, municipalities, residents, and local governments who stand against the proposed transmission lines.
Wray explained the proposed 765 kV line passes through Minnesota, but it will not provide power for a single home in the area. The 765kV line will be carrying power from the west to the east. The current 161kV line will be replaced with a double-circuit 765/161 kV line. The 765kV will be the most voltage proposed in the upper Midwest.
This line will require 250 foot right of ways. The 150- to 200-foot steel lattice towers will be installed every 1,000-1,500 feet, marring the landscape. Current 161 kV poles are only 70 feet tall. To support these towers, concrete piers as much as 50 feet deep will be drilled deep into the land to anchor the towers.
Pugleasa, a former public health director, said the proposed line will go across his property. He is bothered by the unanswered questions about the effect the lattice towers and deep concrete piers will have on karst geology including the effect on water tables and trout streams. There clearly will be some effect, towers installed in unstable bedrock might be a terrible idea.
In Fillmore and Houston Counties the proposed route will pass near Caledonia, Eitzen, Spring Grove, Canton, Mabel and Harmony.
Landowners have been asked to sign easements but have been kept in the dark as to the purpose.
Kyle Johnson, Houston County farm and forestry business, said this needs to be stopped with the “certificate of need.” They don’t need this. The demand for power in Minnesota peaked in 2006. Demand for power is declining.
The line could pose health risks. Johnson concentrated on the noise (hum, crackling) which can cause stress and chronic inflammation. Dr. W. Ben Johnson, MD, a retired cardiologist, questioned the safety of the 765kV high-voltage corridor which has been proposed. He has proposed a 3.1-mile setback which he believes is needed before the impulsive noise decays to a safer level.
A 3.1-mile buffer is likely not possible. Therefore, Johnson recommends it be mandated that the line be buried underground using High-Voltage Direct Current architecture, which will eliminate the noise.
Wray insisted the utilities are using obsolete measuring tools; the utilities hide the dangers. Germany has researched the impact of this kind of noise on people and their bodies. Burying the line will solve the health issues. The right of way would not need to be expanded. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure would not be an issue. Europe has massive DC buried lines. Wray insisted the cost over 80 years will be substantially greater above ground.
Wray said they should have to prove an above ground line is safe. Johnson said there is no scientific independent study of other 765kV lines in the country.
Pugleasa said utilities must provide a “certificate of need” proving the project is necessary in order to provide reliable cost-effective energy. This formal approval will need to come from Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) before any construction can begin. Pugleasa said the PUC should first demand a study of 765 kV lines.
People attending the town hall participated; questions were asked and answered.
Attendees were encouraged to go to NO765MN.com for more information and to get involved. The Minnesota PUC manages the official dockets and public comment periods for “certificate of need” applications. People were encouraged to learn more, spread the work, write to the Minnesota PUC, and donate to help the cause.
Leave a Reply